The Bioethics Program is competency-based and interdisciplinary. It acknowledges that bioethical decisions must be rooted in precedent and best practices and must reflect the broadest range of perspectives-from medical and legal to philosophical and religious. Working professionals typically complete the program in two to three years. Full-time students may complete the program in one year.

Two Master of Science programs-an MS in Bioethics and an MS in Bioethics: Specialization in Research Ethics-are designed to meet the needs of working professionals, comply with the requirements of national accrediting and funding agencies, and impart the skills and knowledge recommended by the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities.

The Master of Science in Bioethics is for those whose primary focus is on clinical ethics and/or health policy and law. The Master of Science in Bioethics: Specialization in Research Ethics emphasizes the challenges faced by those involved in conducting or overseeing research. For both degree programs, students complete 12 required courses. Of those, nine are taught via distance learning by internationally recognized experts in bioethics. On-line courses are complemented by an on-site seminar, practica, individual master's projects, and capstone assessments.

The Bioethics Program attracts students from Japan, the Czech Republic, Canada, Poland, and around the globe-working professionals in fields such as health care, research, law, social work, and government. Over the course of the program, students interact on-line and in person, becoming a community of colleagues whose different perspectives enrich their educational experience. The resulting relationships continue throughout their careers.